FNS Program Guidance on Human Pandemic Response

Last Published: 06/13/2014

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the lead Federal agency for Federal pandemic response. Federal interagency partners support HHS, as requested, to assist State, local, tribal, and territorial partners in their pandemic preparedness and response activities. In some cases, responding to a public health emergency such as a human pandemic will require social distancing by keeping people from gathering in groups, including keeping children home from school and childcare in order to slow the spread of an infection. FNS nutrition assistance programs have a role in responding to nutrition assistance needs during a human pandemic. Flexibilities already exist in some of the nutrition assistance programs that could support social distancing measures during a human pandemic such as alternatives to schools meals and mailing or electronic transmission of benefits. Find out more about specific program flexibilities: